The gang is back, and will look better than ever.
A sixth evening of music, laughter, and heartfelt harmonies is coming to Vernon. Cabaret, a Night of Vocal Performances, is the newest and latest chapter in a grassroots musical adventure that began in Salmon Arm in 2017.
A few friends put together an impromptu fundraiser.
"It went so well, or was just as much fun, we figured, 'Why not do this again, but with slightly better lighting?'" joked troupe member Emily MacArthur, fresh off her stint as The Narrator in Big Apple Production's 10th anniversary performance of The Rocky Horror Show.
Cabaret, a Night of Vocal Performances, will run Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. each evening at the Elks Lodge Vernon.
MacArthur is joined in the troupe by what she calls a "roster of local legends and talented imports:" Danica Block, Michael Jarzecki, Jeannine Kuemmerle, Alex MacArthur, and Ashley Varco. Rick and Coreen Smith serve as the emcees, holding court with their jokes and wranglers of rogue microphones and wayward singers.
What makes this cabaret extra special is that it鈥檚 completely homemade.
The performers handle everything: writing scripts, hunting down sheet music, crafting backdrops, wrangling social media, and remembering to actually rehearse. It鈥檚 a labour of love, fuelled by snacks, group chats and the occasional glass of wine.
The cast is as eclectic as the playlist.
Alex, a concert pianist freshly back from a stint performing in Cabo San Lucas, joins Calgary鈥檚 multi-instrumentalist Jarzecki, who loves any excuse to be on stage.
Block鈥檚 smoky jazz vocals have been a local staple for years, while Jeannine juggles classical piano, theatre chops, and a well-timed eyebrow raise.
Emily is a musical theatre devotee who鈥檚 happiest under the spotlight and known to break into song at brunch. And the Smiths? They鈥檝e been making music, mischief, and keeping the Okanagan stage scene lively for decades.
"Expect a little bit of everything: jazz standards, show tunes, ballads, the occasional surprise number, and at least one song that makes you whisper, 'I forgot how much I loved this one,'" said Emily. "Unless you鈥檙e hoping for heavy metal. In which case鈥he closest we get is a dramatic key change."
It鈥檚 sure to be a night of big voices, even bigger laughs, and the kind of musical magic you only get when a bunch of talented people decide to make something together, just for the joy of it.
Tickets for Cabaret, a Night of Vocal Performances, are $30 and available at or by calling 250-549-SHOW (7469).
